title: Assessing positive mental health in people with chronic physical health problems: correlations with socio-demographic variables and physical health status.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A holistic perspective on health implies giving careful consideration to the relationship between physical and mental health. In this regard the present study sought to determine the level of Positive Mental Health (PMH) among people with chronic physical health problems, and to examine the relationship between the observed levels of PMH and both physical health status and socio-demographic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on the Multifactor Model of Positive Mental Health (Lluch, 1999), which comprises six factors: Personal Satisfaction (F1), Prosocial Attitude (F2), Self-control (F3), Autonomy (F4), Problem-solving and Self-actualization (F5), and Interpersonal Relationship Skills (F6). The sample comprised 259 adults with chronic physical health problems who were recruited through a primary care center in the province of Barcelona (Spain). Positive mental health was assessed by means of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (Lluch, 1999).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of PMH differed, either on the global scale or on specific factors, in relation to the following variables: age: global PMH scores decreased with age (r=-0.129; p=0.038); b) gender: men scored higher on F1 (t=2.203; p=0.028) and F4 (t=3.182; p=0.002), while women scored higher on F2 (t -3.086; p=0.002) and F6 (t=-2.744; p=0.007); c) number of health conditions: the fewer the number of health problems the higher the PMH score on F5 (r=-0.146; p=0.019); d) daily medication: polymedication patients had lower PMH scores, both globally and on various factors; e) use of analgesics: occasional use of painkillers was associated with higher PMH scores on F1 (t=-2.811; p=0.006). There were no significant differences in global PMH scores according to the type of chronic health condition. The only significant difference in the analysis by factors was that patients with hypertension obtained lower PMH scores on the factor Autonomy (t=2.165; p=0.032).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most people with chronic physical health problems have medium or high levels of PMH. The variables that adversely affect PMH are old age, polypharmacy and frequent consumption of analgesics. The type of health problem does not influence the levels of PMH. Much more extensive studies with samples without chronic pathology are now required in order to be able to draw more robust conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Sciences Department, School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Campus of Health Sciences, Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907-Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. tlluch@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lluch-Canut
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puig-Llobet
authors.forename: Aurelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Ortega
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roldán-Merino
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferré-Grau
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires